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pwhallon
Admiral

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USA
694 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2003 : 11:34:25

Hi Yaw'll,

Have any of you guys sailed a Ranger 33?

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d626b3127cce8c15f01b6e4e0000001610" border=0>

If so, what are your opinions of this boat.

Thanks,

Paul

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2003 : 11:35:08

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I wouldn't take any boat into the southern ocean. It's the roughest place in the world to sail, and there's nothing down there. Australia and New Zealand are as far south as I would ever want to go.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Steve, it wouldn't surprise me at all to find that many share your opinion. I, however, would love to putz around Kerguelen and Antarctica; in a steel, cutter-rigged ketch.

The deep Southern Ocean, notwithstanding, my point is only that I personally would rather have a heavy displacement, full keel, cutter-rigged ketch for rounding the Horn, the Cape, and transiting the Pacific and the Southern Ocean between Africa and Australia.

J.B. Manley, Antares '85 FK/SR #4849
Grand Lake O' The Cherokees, NE Oklahoma

Edited by - on

Bryan Beamer
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1038 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2003 : 11:50:27

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2003 : 13:13:45

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> The south sea has what every sailor is looking for and lots of it. CHALLENGE!<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

The Atlantic and Pacific oceans are challenging enough for most sailors. The only people who sail small boats in the southern ocean are around-the-world racers and other adventurers. It's the only place in the world where there is no landmass all the way around the world. Therefore, waves can march around the world, over and over again, building to massive size. Waves sixty feet high are not unusual. If a boat is not at least as long as the height of a wave, there is a great danger that the boat will pitchpole. Imagine sitting in the cockpit of your 50' yacht while a sixty foot wave overtakes it from astern, lifts the stern as if you’re on a high-speed elevator, and then the boat races down the face of the wave and buries its pointy end in the ocean, and the whole boat flips end-over-end! Just because of the nature of the seas that you are likely to encounter, it’s a big risk to sail that area in anything less than a sixty foot yacht.

In 1967, Francis Chichester had a yacht custom built for the purpose of racing around the world via Cape Horn. It was 57' long, which was the largest that he thought he could singlehand. Due to construction delays, he didn't have a chance to give it a sea trial before he started on his trip. He decided to sail into the strong winds of the southern ocean, in order to make the best possible speed. When he got to the southern ocean, the boat rolled over 360 degrees on one or two occasions (I forget which), because the keel was poorly designed. When he got to Australia, he put in for two weeks, and had the keel completely redesigned and replaced.

Australians were pleading with him to not go on around Cape Horn, saying it was too dangerous. At that time, only six people in history had successfully singlehanded around Cape Horn. He made it, but there are photos of his 57' boat being tossed around like a toy.

Since then, a lot of racers have made the trip, but many have had their big, sturdy, custom designed and built yachts broken up in the process. I remember one 54 foot racer, built and raced by Warren Luhrs, that pitchpoled.

When I was younger, I used to read and fantasize about sailing in that area, but, no more. My big dream now is to cross the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, and live there on a boat for 2-3 years, exploring the ancient buildings and ruins from Portugal to Greece, and everything in between, and absorbing the local cultures. But, I wouldn’t even make that passage singlehanded now.

Steve Milby "Captiva Wind" C-25 T/FK #2554

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2003 : 14:15:52

As you might already know, Derek Hatfield's Open 50 pitchpoled Southeast of the Cape just this year in the Around Alone.

Nice dream, Steve. I sincerely hope you make it happen, as I do everyone else, as well.

"My theory has always been, that if we are to dream, the flatteries of hope are as cheap, and pleasanter than the gloom of despair." --Thomas Jefferson to Francois de Marbois, 1817. ME 15:131

J.B. Manley, Antares '85 FK/SR #4849
Grand Lake O' The Cherokees, NE Oklahoma

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Dave B
Admiral

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Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2003 : 14:23:18

Not only is there no land mass to slow the wind or break the waves, there's nobody to give you a hand--unless you're in one of the races, in which case there may be another competitor within 300 miles, or maybe not. No Coast Guards or freighter traffic down there. ALthough there is one iceberg the size of Rhode Island that's gradually breaking up into county-sized pieces... (I know, I know--in Texas, Rhode Island is county-sized.)

Paul: You weren't thinkiing of that Ranger for circumnavigation, were you? At a glance, it doesn't qualify as a passagemaker--starting with the companionway and lack of a bridge deck. One "poop" and and it's just you and your epirb!

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 #5032 "Passage" SR/FK/Dinette/Honda in SW CT

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2003 : 14:38:13

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Not only is there no land mass to slow the wind or break the waves, there's nobody to give you a hand--unless you're in one of the races, in which case there may be another competitor within 300 miles, or maybe not. No Coast Guards or freighter traffic down there.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Dave, I don't think anyone has implied or believes that Southern Ocean passages are without risk. However, some people, myself included, reach a point in their lives where they have become more fearful of the accumulation of any additional life regrets than they are of a potential early demise. These are the people, in my opinion, that do things that the majority of others say they would not. It's not a differential in courage or sensibility, but a difference in what is to be gained or lost for each individual.

J.B. Manley, Antares '85 FK/SR #4849
Grand Lake O' The Cherokees, NE Oklahoma

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2003 : 15:35:19

<img src="http://us.st5.yimg.com/store4.yimg.com/I/demotivators_1737_1112082" border=0>

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

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Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2003 : 16:12:19

THE SHIP THAT SAILED
I’d rather be the ship that sails
And rides the billows wide and free
Than be the ship that always fails
To leave its port and go to sea

I’d rather feel the sting of strife
Where gales are born and tempests roar
Than settle down to useless life
And rot in dry dock on the shore

I’d rather fight some mighty wave
With honour in supreme command
And fill a last well earned grave
Than die at ease upon the sand

I’d rather drive where storm winds blow
And be the ship that always failed
To make the ports where it would go
Than be the ship that never sails

Anonymous
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it - but sail we must and not drift, nor lie at anchor."

Oliver Wendell Holmes

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d626b3127cce8c11e055ef390000001610" border=0>

J.B. Manley, Antares '85 FK/SR #4849
Grand Lake O' The Cherokees, NE Oklahoma

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2003 : 16:25:51

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>www.despair.com<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

That website is way too funny, Don. Okay, I'll go back to sleep now. Sorry to have taken over this thread. <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d626b3127cce8c116805ef2d0000001610" border=0>

J.B. Manley, Antares '85 FK/SR #4849
Grand Lake O' The Cherokees, NE Oklahoma

Edited by - Antares on 08/07/2003 16:52:54

Edited by - on

Dave B
Admiral

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Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2003 : 17:42:22

Don: I'll have to remember that for my motivational speaking circuit! <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 #5032 "Passage" SR/FK/Dinette/Honda in SW CT

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2003 : 19:21:40

Steve -

Your dream is the same as ours. In about 11 years I will be able to retire from San Diego County government service, buy a rugged blue water boat (probably in Florida) and cross the pond to spend 5 years exploring Europe in detail. I plan to sail to Great Britian, France, Italy, Greece, and more. I want to take the French Canals to the Baltic, summer in Europe and winter in the Med.

If you don't have a dream life passes you by in a series of never ending dull days. If you can focus your energy on your dream and sustain it (for 11 years in my case), every minute of life is just that much sweeter.

Our family already accomplished this once - 2 years of planning and work resulted in our year long cruise. The most rewarding years in our lives. Don't forget to bring along the courage to make your dream come true when the opportunity is there. There were many temptations to "chicken out" and not take our year off.

I expect our boat will be a Pacific Seacraft 36 or equivalent.

I also really like the Fisher 37 (since we are going to Europe a pilothouse is very attractive). The role of our 1978 Cat 25 is to help us master sailing, keep our skills up, and keep the dream alive for the next decade WITHOUT spending all the money we will need for the cruise.

Pacific Seacraft 37
http://www.pacificseacraft.com/html/sailboats/images/37/PSC37.jpg

Fisher 37

http://www.northshore.co.uk/fisher37/afish37b_2_0001.jpg

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/pictures/icon.jpg" border=0>Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2003 : 21:27:43

Paul, have you seen the latest edition of Latitude 38... the Ranger 33 is the featured 'classic' boat of the month.

Per the article, they have been sailed on true bluewater passages and taken rough weather in stride... including hurricanes.

Let me know if you'd like me to scan the article and email it to you.

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

Edited by - on

Ellis Bloomfield
1st Mate

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USA
85 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2003 : 21:36:19

Milby hit it right on when he said those who go way south are adventurers. For some of us even pitchpoling seems a more attractive finale than playing bingo in a nursing home. Everybody needs a dream and thank goodness they aren't all the same. I wouldn't want to singlehand around the horn and the odds of finding someone crazy enough to join up seems unlikely. My biggest fear now is that as Americans we are welcome in less and less countries around the world. I made a two year trip across the Atlantic to Cape Town, up through Africa, up the Nile on a steamer and across the Med nearly 40 years ago and even then there was much anti-American feeling. Many of the countries I visited then would be extremely dangerous if not impossible to visit now. But I still like the quote sometimes attributed to Twain, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2003 : 21:39:48

<img src="http://us.st5.yimg.com/store4.yimg.com/I/demotivators_1752_3216" border=0>

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

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Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2003 : 21:59:09

That's exactly why it's time to quit the old job and go sailing! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

J.B. Manley, Antares '85 FK/SR #4849
Grand Lake O' The Cherokees, NE Oklahoma

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